Home and Garden

We’re experiencing so many firsts in our new home, and I’m enjoying every moment of it. The first mortgage payment isn’t exactly a thrill, but our first “yard day” was magical!

Ryan got his mulch on while I experimented with hostas, impatiens, and a few succulent-looking bushes. I don’t know much about gardening or landscaping, but I sure am enjoying the learning process. After I finished our front yard, I excitedly told my mother what I’d done, and she gave me the bad news that a lot of impatiens are being targeted by a special fungus this year. I’m going to leave them be and see how it goes, but I’ll inevitably need to prepare for their imminent death.

Our other big project was the vegetable garden. I previously did my gardening in community garden plots, so it felt odd to plant on our own property. We’re starting small to see what happens, and, hopefully, the food in our garden will gradually become more reliable. I also worry about thieving creatures who could potentially confiscate the fruits of our labor, so we’re installing a chicken-wire fence to protect our treats.

The cost of the fence was relatively cheap (at just under 40 bucks), but the installation was taxing. We also decided to work in the rain, which might not have been the best decision. For starters, we didn’t dig deep enough, so we had to bend the bottom portion of the fence to make it fit. The result is not the most beautiful or structurally sound fence, but it should get the job done.

This year’s final landscaping project is planting in our backyard along the side of the garage. I keep hearing about these Knockout roses everywhere I go, so I picked up a couple of bright bushes. The color is out of this world! Did you know that the Knockout rose was a breeding invention of Milwaukee’s own William Radler? Well, now you do.

In between, I’m adding a few grass-like plants—possibly lilies. We were lucky enough to receive a great deal of plants as housewarming gifts, but my amateur eye cannot detect which is which. Share your favorite summer plants and gardening projects in the comments section. Cheers to warm weather on the horizon!